Fastener for loth material



Dec. 28, 1965 R. R. GUNDERsoN 3,225,404

FASTENER FOR CLOTH MATERIAL Filed sept. 12,l 1963 Z0 54 44 37 l Z4FII-EE;

l 37 El!! United States Patent O 3,225,494 FSTENER FR CLOTH MATERIALRalph R. Gunderson, Vari Products Co., .331) N. Harding, Chicago, 1li.Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 308,599 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 24-162) Thisinvention relates to a fastening device for securing together multipleplies of cloth material or the like, and more particularly to afastening device suited for use in securing diapers upon a baby.

The commonly known means of securing diapers upon a baby has been withthe use of the conventional safety pin. The hazards attendant in usingsuch a pin to secure diapers upon even a passive infant are well known.Even when extreme care is being taken, occasionally either the infant orperson changing the diaper on the infant may be pierced. A fastenerwhich has been developed for such a use which substantially eliminatesthe possibility of injury is disclosed in my Patent No. 3,136,015entitled A Locking Assembly for Cloth Material, and this application isan improvement upon the device disclosed therein.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new andimproved fastening device for securing cloth material together.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedmethod for producing a fastening device for securing cloth material.

It is further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedfastening device for securing cloth material together having improvedlocking means for securing the slidable pin thereof in an operativeclosed position or inoperative open position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new andimproved locking device for securing cloth material together having alarge opening in the projecting insert of the base member forfacilitating passage of the needle therethrough to an operativeposition.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new andimproved fastener for securing cloth material together having a recessedportion on the underside of the top hinge thereof for serving as a guidefor the slidable main body portion so that substantially none of theslidable body portion will be exposed on the underside of the topportion.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a new andimproved fastening device for cloth material having a dome at the freeend of the top end of the hinge portion for providing stability to thetop of the hinge and a convenient surface for the application of thedigital pressure thereto when the cloth material is being pushed intothe interior of the dome under influence of the projecting insert of thebase member.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedmethod for producing a fastening device for securing diapers whichcomprises the steps of separately forming a body blank with top andbottom hinge portions and top and bottom pin carrier portions, placingthe stud of one pin carrier portion through a slot formed in the tophinge of the body blank, positioning the eye of a fastening pin aboutthe stud of the one pin carrier portion, placing the other pin carrierportion about the projecting stud, and applying heat to the projectingstud to unite the pin carrier portions and form the fastening devicehaving a carrier member slidably mounted thereon.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the fastener of this invention;

3225,44 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 ice FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectionview of the fastener taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View of the fastener with the slidable pin inretracted position and showing the layers of cloth material being forcedwithin the dome of the assembly by the projecting insert of the basemember;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the slidablepin moved forwardly to locking position to impale the cloth materialpushed into the dome by the projecting insert;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along the line --S of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a broken view of the top portion of the fastener of thisinvention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the top portion of the pin carriermember of the fastener device of this invention prior to assembly withthe bottom portion thereof; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of the bottom portion of the pin carriermember of the fastener device of this invention prior to assembly withthe top portion thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the fastener device of this inventionincludes a main body 1i) having a base member 12 and a top member orhousing 14. The top member is provided with a slidably mounted carriermember 16. The hinged connecting means 18 Connects the base 12 and top14 to each other and permits the base and top to be swung about eachother into superposed relation as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Preferably,the body 10 including the base 12, top 14 as well as the hingedconnection 18, are formed from a single piece of plastic material or thelike.

The base member 12 includes a generally flat elongate arm or strap 2t).At one end of the arm 20 there is provided a projecting insert 22 whichextends generally upright or transverse to the plane of the base. Theinsert 22 is preferably an arch-like element having a relatively largeopening 24 therethrough.

The purpose of the insert 22 is to push cloth material 26 into anannular oblate dome 28 formed at one end of the top member when the topand bottom are swung about the hinge 18, as shown in FIGURE 3. The dome28 has an inner periphery 3() affording a recess or opening into whichthe cloth material 26 is forced by the insert 22. The insert 22 is of asize relative to the cloth material to be used and to the interior orrecess of the dome Z8 so that when cloth material is forced therein thecloth may be held in frictional engagement between the outer surface ofthe insert and the inner surface of the dome.

The top .portion 14 consists of a generally elongate strap 32 having anarrow elongate slot or guide 34 formed substantially along thelongitudinal centerline thereof. The carrier 16 is adapted for slidablemovement in the slot, toward and away from the dome end of the strap 32,with the opposite ends of the slot affording stops for the carrier. Alocking pin 36 is held in the carrier by a stud 37 which projectsthrough an eye 36a of the pin. The carrier mounts the pin 36 so that thepin may be pushed through and away from the interior of the dome 23 asthe carrier 15 is moved forwardly and rearwardly in the slot. The dome28 has a rearwardly extending boss 28a and forwardly extending boss 2Sb,both of which are substantially coaxial with the slot 34;. Boss 28a isprovided with an aperture 33 and boss Zb is .provided with an aperture40 both of which are generally coaxial with the pin 36. When the carrieris in a rearward or inoperative position, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3and 6, the free or sharp end of the pin 36 is housed within the boss23a. When the carrier member 16 is moved forwardly in the slot 34, thepin advances through the interior of the dome 28 and lodges in theaperture 40 of the boss 28h. As clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4,when cloth material 25 has been forced into the interior of the dome bythe projecting insert, the opening 24 of the insert permits the pin toimpale the cloth material 26 on either side of the insert as well aspassing therethrough and into the opening 4i) of the boss 28b.

The carrier 16 consists of a top portion 42 having an opening 42a in thebottom thereof and a bottom portion 44 having the stud 37 on the topthereof which is adapted to mate with the opening 42a in the portion 42.In forming the fastener of this invention, the body thereof is molded toproduce a one-piece structure lacking only the carrier member 16. Thetop and bottom portions 42 and 44, respectively, of the carrier memberare separately formed and the fastener may be assembled in merely onestep. This is accomplished by placing the bottom portion 44 under thebottom side of the top member 14 so that the stud 37 projects upwardlythrough the slot 34 thereof placing the eye 36a of the pin over the stud37 and then placing the top portion 42 over the top member 14 so thatthe stud 37 is inserted in the opening 42a and the pin is heldtherebetween with the sharp end in the opening 40 of the boss 28a. Withthe top and bottom portions of the carrier so positioned, heat andpressure are applied thereto so that the stud 37 melts in the opening42a and the top and bottom carrier portions are bonded together as aunit slidable in the slot 34.

The fastener of this invention is provided with improved latching meansfor positively retaining the carrier in an operative or locking positionand in an inoperative or retracted position. As herein shown, thetianges 46 and 46a are formed at either side of the top arm 32 andproject thereabove substantially normal to the plane of the top. Theflanges 46 and 46a include two pairs of mutually cooperating opposedspaced nodes 48 and 48a and 5t) and 56a which project inwardly towardeach other from the interior wall of the flanges. These nodes areadapted to cooperate with the latch nodes 52 and 52a on either side ofthe carrier 16 for appropriately positioning the carrier. When thecarrier is in the most rearward position of travel permitted by thelength of the slot 34, the nodes 52 and 52a are preferably situatedimmediately behind the nodes 5o and 50a as clearly illustrated in FIGURE6. The cooperating nodes positively retain the carrier in this retractedor inoperative position so that the pointed end of the pin is safelyhoused within the rear boss 28a.

When the carrier is pushed forwardly to impale cloth material as shownin FIGURE 4, so that the front end of the carrier abuts the boss 28anear the dome 28 with the pin point safely housed within the boss 28b,the front nodes 48 and 43a will be located immediately to the rear ofthe carrier nodes S2 and 52a. thereby locking the carrier in anoperative or forward position so that the pin may not be dislodged fromthe fabric.

A feature of this latch means is that it provides a detinite audibleclick which serves as a signal to one who is pinning the diaper that thecarrier is home in either a locked operative or inoperative position.Moreover, movement of the carrier with its side nodes past therestricted portions formed by the projecting nodes of the flangesprovides a sensation to the touch of the party manipulating the pin,further informing him when the carrier is pushed home and locked in aforward operative position or rearward inoperative position.

Another feature of the fastener of this invention is the recess 54formed on the underside of the arm 32 of the top member 14. The recess54 forms a channel housing the bottom portion 44 of the carrier 16 sothat it is contained substantially within the plane of the bottom of thestrap 32. By eliminating any substantial projection of the underside ofthe carrier below the line of the top strap, the carrier may be pushedto an operative forward position more easily with little likelihood thatthe carrier will snag or catch in a portion of the cloth material as itis being advanced.

The fastener of this invention may be produced by a new and improvedmethod which results in a substantial savings in production cost byeliminating steps in the production thereof. Furthermore, this yfastenerpossesses advantages of structure unknown before. The domed opening inthe free end of the top strap lends rigidity and strength thereto aswell as providing a surface for the application of digital pressureduring use of ythe fastener. The recess in the underside of the topportion serves to safely engage the underside of the carrier member sothat movement of the carrier member is more easily effectuated with lesslikelihood of snagging the cloth material being held thereby. Theimproved latching means provides an audible as well as physical signalto the user of the pin producing a dual indication that the carrier haslocked in either a forward operative position or rearward inoperativeposition.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations n should beunderstood therefrom for some modifications x housing; a slidablecarrier provided with a locking pin,

the carr-ier being mounted on the guide for slidable movement to carrythe locking pin between a retracted position and a forward lockingposition in which the pin is disposed across the cloth-receivingopening; latching i nodes on the carrier and on the housing positionedfor contact during slidable movement of the carrier, one of the nodesbeing resiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other ofthe nodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced past each other inmoving the carrier to a position of latching engagement to releasablylatch the carrier against slidable movement and to hold the locking pinin locking position; and a stop member positioned at the forward end ofthe guide to arrest forward movement of the carrier, the nodes beingpositioned relative to the stop so that the node on the carrier liesintermediate the stop member and the node on the housing when thelocking pin is in locking position.

2. A fastener device for cloth material, comprising: a lhousing having acloth-receiving opening; a guide on the housing; a slidable carrierprovided with a locking pin, the carrier being mounted on the guide forslidable movement to carry the locking pin between a retracted positionand a forward locking position in which the pin is disposed across thecloth-receiving opening; latching nodes on the carrier and on thehousisng positioned for contact during slidable movement of the carrier,one of the nodes being resiliently deformable and positioned in relationto the other of the nodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced pasteach other in moving the carrier to a position of latching engagement toreleasably latch the carrier against slidable movement and to hold thelocking pin in locking position; and a second latching node positionedon the housing adjacent the rear of the guide for contact with the nodeon the carrier during slidable movement of the carrier, said second nodeand said carrier node forming a second pair of latching nodes, one nodeof said second pair being resiliently deformable and positioned inrelation to the other node of the second pair that the nodes of saidsecond pair can be yieldingly forced past each other in moving thecarrier to a position of latching movement and to hold the locking piuin retracted position.

3. A fastener device for cloth material, comprising: a housing having aforward end with a cloth receiving opening adjacent the forward end; aguide on the housing; a slidable carrier provided with a locking pin,the carrier being mounted on the guide for slidable movement to carrythe locking pin between a retracted position and a forward lockingposition in which the pin is disposed across the cloth receivingopening; latching nodes on the carrier; latching nodes on the housingpositioned for con tact with the carrier nodes during slidable movementof the carrier, said housing nodes spaced from the forward end of thehousing a distance suicient to permit at least a portion of the carrierincluding the carrier nodes to occupy a position between the housingnodes and the cloth receiving opening, at least one of the nodes beingresiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other of thenodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced past each other inmoving the carrier to a position of latching engagement wherein thecarrier nodes extend forwardly of the housing nodes to releasably latchthe carrier against slidable movement and to hold the locking pin inlocking position.

4. A fastener device for cloth material as specified in claim 3, inwhich the carrier has cooperative portions making a close t with theguide to direct the locking pin in a straight line sliding movementbetween retracted and locking position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 776,684 12/ 1904Pilcher 24-46 830,368 9/1906 Robinson 24-46 2,373,586 4/1945 Marinetti24-162 2,425,299 8/1947 -Ballou 29-160.6 2,449,419 9/ 1948 Shatkin24-162 2,553,782 5/1951 Orchard et al 24-162 2,772,472 12/1956 Ballou29-160.6 2,823,434 2/ 1958 Van Buren 24-238 2,861,312 11/1958 Buchwaldet al. 24-162 2,900,696 8/1959 Bacon 24-206.1 3,035,573 5/1962 Morton etal 24-206 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, BOBBY R. GAY, Examiners.

1. A FASTENER DEVICE FOR CLOTH MATERIAL, COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING ACLOTH-RECEIVING OPENING; A GUIDE ON THE HOUSING; A SLIDABLE CARRIERPROVIDED WITH A LOCKING PIN, THE CARRIER BEING MOUNTED ON THE GUIDE FORSLIDABLE MOVEMENT TO CARRY THE LOCKING PIN BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITIONAND A FORWARD LOCKING POSITION IN WHICH THE PIN IS DISPOSED ACROSS THECLOTH-RECEIVING OPENING; LATCHING NODES ON THE CARRIER AND ON THEHOUSING POSITIONED FOR CONTACT DURING SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIER,ONE OF THE NODES BEING RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE AND POSITIONED IN RELATIONTO THE OTHER OF THE NODES SO THAT THE NODES CAN BE YIELDABLY FORCED PASTEACH OTHER IN MOVING THE CARRIER TO A POSITION OF LATCHING ENGAGEMENT TORELEASABLY LATCH THE CARRIER AGAINST SLIDABLE MOVEMENT AND TO HOLD THELOCKING PIN IN LOCKING POSITION; AND A STOP MEMBER POSITIONED AT THEFORWARD END OF THE GUIDE TO ARREST FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIER, THENODES BEING POSITIONED RELATIVE TO THE STOP SO THAT THE NODE ON THECARRIER LIES INTERMEDIATE THE STOP MEMBER AND THE NODE ON THE HOUSINGWHEN THE LOCKING PIN IS IN LOCKING POSITION.